SPRINGFIELD - A 20-year-old city man, stopped by police on Adams Street for dealing drugs from his bicycle, volunteered that he was only selling a small amount of marijuana. That was bad, police said, but the stash of heroin in his backpack only made things worse.

Springfield police Sgt. John Delaney said Geovanny Hernandez-Soto was arrested and charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Geovanny Hernandez-sotoSpringfield police photo

Delaney said members of the narcotics bureau spotted Hernandez-Soto peddling drugs as he pedaled his mountain bike through the city’s South End. As police moved in to stop him, he shouted at them “Hey, come on, officers! I’m just selling a little weed.”

Officers Thomas Nehmer, Dennis Hackett and Mark Provost found Hernandez-Soto to have a small amount of heroin in his hands but 42 packets of heroin in his backpack.

Conviction of distribution of heroin can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in state prison or 2 ½ years in the county jail.